Reflecting on Growth During Challenging Times

You know what the craziest thing about turning 34 today is? Thinking back to last year's birthday when I turned 33 — at the height of quarantine.⁠ 🎂😨⁠ My 2020 "bash" consisted of putting the Global Citizen Festival on TV and dancing around my apartment in a flower crown, drinking sparkling wine, and telling myself “this will all be over soon.”⁠ 🙏⁠ And here we are a year later, finally starting to come out the other end of things.⁠ ✨⁠ Like many people, during my birthday I often reflect upon the last year.⁠ 💭⁠ To be honest, this year I almost *didn’t* do it — because my first thought was “this past year was a waste and I don’t want to think about all the ways I’ve backtracked.”⁠ 😭⁠ But when I sat down to put pen to paper, I realized that I’ve grown in so many more ways than I realized. For instance, I...⁠ 👇⁠ Started running again (which I haven’t done since I was about 25!)⁠ 💪⁠ Moved to my dream apartment ( I’ve honestly been wishing for this for about six years now!)⁠ 💪⁠ Got to deeply know my home state of New York (via numerous local hiking trips!)⁠ 💪⁠ Flexed my entrepreneurial muscles and launched new products (including a blogger summit and Zoom wedding photography!)⁠ 💪⁠ Strengthened my relationship with myself and my husband (who I've been attached at the hip with for the past year thanks to co-living *and* co-working in a one-bedroom apartment!)⁠ 💪⁠ If you haven't yet, I encourage you to take time to reflect on the ways this past year had helped you grow, too. It can be quite a therapeutic experience. 🥰 #BeyondTheGuidebook⁠